Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1887-04-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1881

to take place in this city next month.
The color line crisis has been safely
passed, the movement towards the
reorganization of the local militia,
putting the companies in a position
to compete for the prizes, goes briskly
forward. the month of the drill is
nearly here, the securing of hotel
accommodations has begun, ard many
other indications point to the fact
that the great assemblage of the
Republics militia, and of all who de-
light in the military, will soon be here.
Washington, fresh and charming in
her new spring suit OF green, will gladly
welcome the thousands of visitors who
will flock to her reception in May, and,
aside from all interest in the Drill it is
worth trip of any distance to see
the most beautiful city of America in
her best attire.
The warm. bright sunshine OF Easter
Monday seemed warmer and brighter
in the neighborhood of the White
House than anywhere else in this city
Thousands of children, without regard
to race, color, or previous condition,
thronged the grounds of the Chief
Magistrate for the purpose OF rolling
and picking eggs. 1t is an annual
privilege custom has long accorded
the youth of the District. They have
the entire freedom OF the grounds on
Easter Monday. They take posses
sion early in the morning, bring their
lunches and their nurses. roll them
selves over the greensward when they
are tired of rolling eggs. and never de-
sert the spot until nIghtfall.
One feature of the egg festival was
it's effect upon the afternoon reception
to the public ut the White House.
Many OF the festive little ones made
free to enter and swelled the attend
ance to about I,50Opeople. One-iifih
of that number is n pretty good
crowd on these tri-wcekly occasions.
The children were
English. Irish, French and Spanish,
German, italian, Dutch and Danish.
At first the President attempted TO
give each one Il greeting with some
special remark, but this generous in
tentiOn was overcome in n few minute.
and ere long he was trying to shake
hands with three OF them at n time.
There were humble white folks and
aristocratic black folks. and they
laid their hands in the executive palm
with equal confidence. Occasionally
IL tow-headei boy, soiled and no,
from his mornings sport. would
march up solemnly, put his dirty egg
smeared fingers in the Presidential
hand, and then slink otf as though he
had done something he was ASHAMED
OF.
Since the Interstate commerce law
went into effect the number OF per-
sonal applications for appointments
under the administration at Washing
ton has diminished very materially.
The canceling Offree passes has caused
marked falling Off in the number of
callers ut the government depart
ments from the various states and
territories, and il will pretty effect tually
stop the coming OF delegations and
individuals to urge appointments and
press their claims here. lIeret ofore Il
day never passed without such dele
CATIONS mt all of the departments, but
especially would they iniest that OF
the interior. They would come from
the Pacific coast and the far North
west, and often just in the hone OF Sc
curing the pettiest Office.
Probably the most nj surd of all tn,
complaints made against civil service
reform is the charge hat it will lead ia
the establishment of an oiiice-holdine
artist ocracy. Any one who examine
| the lists of thousand-dollar secreta-
ries of Senators. of committee clerks
attached to both houses OF Congress
of unclassilied officers in the Depart
ments here i'm Washing ON. and of the
occupants of the most comfortable
berths in custom houses, federal
courts, the postal service, internal
revenue and pension offices all oven
the country, will be astonshed M tn,
number OF sons, brothers. cousins
nephews, sisters. nieces and aunts who
are drawing incomes from the public
treasury.
Only last week "A senator's son was
appointed to be clef OF division in
ONE OF the Washington departments
and another Senator'- son received "A
clerical position under he Interstate
Commerce commission. This j. not
saying that the fact of one citizen :
relationship to another ought tn
operate as II bar TO his official aspira
tions. But all oi these above men,
toned places are beyond the reach oi
the civil service rules.
II would he scarcely po~,iil.. tor I,
more offensive form of aristocracy 10
obtain than this. which iS under the
old system of patronage. The new
rules restrict admission TO the civil
service to persons oi approved el'ica-